When i made the original WoFF topic, i made it with the intention of the reader understanding my views, and everything going forward was to achieve that point (in fact, that's exactly why i wanted to leave the Final Fantasy community in general when it comes to the internet because no one really wants to understand, they just say they do, and they end it). I also know that an official FF15 forum will not allow to heavily question the developers, its jut there for show. so getting my word out in a place that might change the chances of purchase could be an issue.
But i'll make myself heard (and understood) here specifically about WoFF. those who have no intention of understanding, you are not welcomed, because you can't convince me otherwise without first understanding.
Although the return of ATB is great. it really depends on the right circumstances, and fans have made that as an active topic recently. not too long ago, didn't people bash the idea of an FF7 remake having turn-base, and fans accepted it more once confirmed that it wasn't? And yet, when WoFF was announced, it was easily accepted? And for what reason? Looking at the gameplay indept, of course their showing off the flashy summons to make the battle system more interesting. But if that was the case, why can't FF7 keep its ATV system?
This game is going to be made by up-and-coming director Hiroki Chiba who claims was around FF6's time although his credited works are mostly event planner and scenario writer. but hey, every FF cast member has to start somewhere right? Tetsuya Nomura created FF7 and that was a great hit....and despite how much i hate the man, Motomu Toriyama started on FFX-2 and that was....not-so-great.
Why you should be worried just as i am:
#1) Misunderstanding of the series new up-and-coming director, despite well intentions, seems to miss the point over all and how Final Fantasy has been so successful, and how it makes the series so great. First off, he well intends to make this game as an introductory to a new generation. (which generation is a vague term, every decade, a new generation is born, and i'm still in my early 20s and gaming hasn't changed all that much in terms of what people want or what they want to see).
Potentially Each Final Fantasy game has been an introductory to the series. Its actually how we are able to get more and more fans into the series. This is especially true when there's a launch of a new console. People are well-aware any game that comes out early in launch or at least a new game in the latest console that it will be designed for newcomers. (this is also where the trend of HD remaster collections are born).
Granted, FF is older than me, but the changes so far were evolutionary, refining and expanding of what the FF series was. But also, as people's taste dont just grow with FF, they grow with other series that we enjoy. So to make a chibi-style FF game just to target a new generation seems like he's trying to say "we believe the new generation prefer chibi, and with this game, we'll be introducing chibi FF" and if that's the case, this can easily lead to "we will be seeing more chibi-style FF games for those who liked the chibi-style games". Which FF was never about (not even when FF used the horrid Monster Octopus designs, was it welcomed heavily by both new and old)
#2) Not well designed compared to other big console games.
Sad thing is, this game isn't exactly selling a solid moving story, their not even selling great characters. Is this what an introductory to FF should be? or let me rephrase, should this be the highlight of the next generation? Keep in mind, the designs dont look that solid. I by no means hate chibi design, but everything else seems like its trying to be a mixture of bad-ass designs with chibi, a mixture that looks heavily incoherent especially when they interact.
For example: the chibi characters mouths move in this stop-motion style while the others move fluidly as if they actual physical mouths. And these characters interact at the same time. the world of course looks nicely designed. but it looks more like a theme park then a "world". With that said, the bland characters makes it harder to appreciate as well, with less than original designs. In fact, it seems like its all about monster capturing....and that's where the crux of it is. since all the monsters and characters look chibi, is it appealing to capture monsters? granted, Pokemon were cute (but they weren't cute in a forceful way, they gave each monster a unique fluid design). Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker also shares similar ideas but just like Pokemon, the monsters were fluid and felt liek they all fit in this world.
WoFF looks more like "Land of FF" (if you know what i mean). But FF is indeed trying to gain a new audience with it, or rather build a new IP witihin the already existing IP (which means more split community).
#3) Overall, a major distraction from other games we should be focused on.
Final fantasy is shifting, more and more mediocre games have been. i stayed a fan simply because i can tolerate them being in the lesser consoles, but i would not be able to stand if a full-budget for a main console like PS4/XBone/PC would be waisted on a more casual game. especially if its intended to build a fanbase that we knwo will exist regardless if this game exists.
But i'll make myself heard (and understood) here specifically about WoFF. those who have no intention of understanding, you are not welcomed, because you can't convince me otherwise without first understanding.
Although the return of ATB is great. it really depends on the right circumstances, and fans have made that as an active topic recently. not too long ago, didn't people bash the idea of an FF7 remake having turn-base, and fans accepted it more once confirmed that it wasn't? And yet, when WoFF was announced, it was easily accepted? And for what reason? Looking at the gameplay indept, of course their showing off the flashy summons to make the battle system more interesting. But if that was the case, why can't FF7 keep its ATV system?
This game is going to be made by up-and-coming director Hiroki Chiba who claims was around FF6's time although his credited works are mostly event planner and scenario writer. but hey, every FF cast member has to start somewhere right? Tetsuya Nomura created FF7 and that was a great hit....and despite how much i hate the man, Motomu Toriyama started on FFX-2 and that was....not-so-great.
Why you should be worried just as i am:
#1) Misunderstanding of the series new up-and-coming director, despite well intentions, seems to miss the point over all and how Final Fantasy has been so successful, and how it makes the series so great. First off, he well intends to make this game as an introductory to a new generation. (which generation is a vague term, every decade, a new generation is born, and i'm still in my early 20s and gaming hasn't changed all that much in terms of what people want or what they want to see).
Potentially Each Final Fantasy game has been an introductory to the series. Its actually how we are able to get more and more fans into the series. This is especially true when there's a launch of a new console. People are well-aware any game that comes out early in launch or at least a new game in the latest console that it will be designed for newcomers. (this is also where the trend of HD remaster collections are born).
Granted, FF is older than me, but the changes so far were evolutionary, refining and expanding of what the FF series was. But also, as people's taste dont just grow with FF, they grow with other series that we enjoy. So to make a chibi-style FF game just to target a new generation seems like he's trying to say "we believe the new generation prefer chibi, and with this game, we'll be introducing chibi FF" and if that's the case, this can easily lead to "we will be seeing more chibi-style FF games for those who liked the chibi-style games". Which FF was never about (not even when FF used the horrid Monster Octopus designs, was it welcomed heavily by both new and old)
#2) Not well designed compared to other big console games.
Sad thing is, this game isn't exactly selling a solid moving story, their not even selling great characters. Is this what an introductory to FF should be? or let me rephrase, should this be the highlight of the next generation? Keep in mind, the designs dont look that solid. I by no means hate chibi design, but everything else seems like its trying to be a mixture of bad-ass designs with chibi, a mixture that looks heavily incoherent especially when they interact.
For example: the chibi characters mouths move in this stop-motion style while the others move fluidly as if they actual physical mouths. And these characters interact at the same time. the world of course looks nicely designed. but it looks more like a theme park then a "world". With that said, the bland characters makes it harder to appreciate as well, with less than original designs. In fact, it seems like its all about monster capturing....and that's where the crux of it is. since all the monsters and characters look chibi, is it appealing to capture monsters? granted, Pokemon were cute (but they weren't cute in a forceful way, they gave each monster a unique fluid design). Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker also shares similar ideas but just like Pokemon, the monsters were fluid and felt liek they all fit in this world.
WoFF looks more like "Land of FF" (if you know what i mean). But FF is indeed trying to gain a new audience with it, or rather build a new IP witihin the already existing IP (which means more split community).
#3) Overall, a major distraction from other games we should be focused on.
Final fantasy is shifting, more and more mediocre games have been. i stayed a fan simply because i can tolerate them being in the lesser consoles, but i would not be able to stand if a full-budget for a main console like PS4/XBone/PC would be waisted on a more casual game. especially if its intended to build a fanbase that we knwo will exist regardless if this game exists.
